3 Steps to Bringing Calm to Your Birth Amid the COVID- 19 Crisis
Photo by Sven Brandsma on Unsplash
As society as we knew it seems to come to a screeching halt, babies are still being born. A recent client of mine just posted the most adorable photo of her baby wearing a onesie that said “Stay Home” as she remarked that she wished everyone had a baby to snuggle with during this time. While the reward will most certainly be a bright spot for growing families during this strange and scary time, getting to that destination is becoming increasingly anxiety provoking for many. Group birthing and breastfeeding classes have been canceled, you may be worried about who will be allowed to join you at the hospital due to changing visitor policies, and of course there are extra health concerns for yourselves, your babies and your partners to consider. So what’s a pregnant person to do right now? Here are 3 suggestions:
Learn about your current options.
There are always options to consider, and though some options may have changed due to COVID- 19 precautions, many have not. There could also be options you are more interested in considering than you were, say a month ago. It may surprise you that doulas are still (as of this post) allowed in to the hospitals to support their clients. We are considered part of the care team, not subject to changing visitor policies which comes as a relief to many. Even so, some pregnant people may decide that they are concerned about any additional people in the room due to social distancing, and begin to explore virtual doula support services. Certainly for consultations, prenatal meetings, as well as birth classes this is a great option. Some may decide they wish to avoid the hospital all together and begin reaching out to homebirth midwives. Realizing that you have options, and feeling empowered to make the best choices for you and your family may help you feel a little more in control amid the chaos.
2. Prepare to advocate for yourself.
Feeling more prepared often equates to feeling more calm, even during times when you must let go of expectation and control and surrender to the outcome- like birth. This has always been key in achieving a more positive birth experience, but is especially important now. Now is the time when learning about ALL your options through online birth classes and doula support will be key. Prepare yourself to know what questions to ask and how to get the information you need when it comes to making tough decisions during your birth. Even if visitors are physically restricted, you are capable of knowing what is right for you and your family and speaking up for yourself. Of course birth is always unpredictable, and plans are fluid, so remembering to refer to the good old Venn diagram of how to lower stress is always a good idea as well:
3. Train your brain.
I talk about this at length with my clients- what your brain is doing during labor is arguably the most important thing, so it has never been a better time to prepare yourself mentally for the challenge ahead. Reactive thoughts and fear can trigger the stress response, literally changing your physiology- uterine arteries get narrower, and the blood gets shunted to the large muscles, (to get ready to fight or flee). This can result in longer, more painful labors, more necessary interventions, etc. Luckily, there is a lot you can do to train your brain to remain calm. Mindfulness practices such as meditation and hypnosis can increase the release of oxytocin and endorphins, and discourage the release of stress hormones. Regular practice can make activating your parasympathetic nervous system (the rest and relax response) during times of stress automatic, and it’s never too soon to begin. Especially now, when we could all use a little more centering and calm in our lives, am I right?
Written by Angie Traska, coordinator of Align Doula Services, providing intuitive, attentive doula support that aligns with you. Serving Madison, WI and the surrounding areas.
Want to meet a few excellent doulas, learn more about Align Doula Services or doulas in general? Please join us for our complimentary doula info meeting on April 1st to learn more, or shoot us a message to line up a private consultation.